2012 SUPPLEMENTAL FILING INFORMATION
CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES

PLEASE NOTE:The Commission provides reminders of upcoming filing dates as a courtesy to help committees comply with the filing deadlines set forth in the Act and Commission regulations. Committee treasurers must comply with all applicable filing deadlines established by law, and the lack of prior notice does not constitute an excuse for failing to comply with any filing deadline.

WHO MUST FILE

Campaigns that raise or spend more than $5,000 for the 2012 election cycle (and thus trigger registration and reporting requirements) must file quarterly reports throughout 2012, even if the candidate plans to retire, withdraws from the race prior to the primary election, loses the primary or drops out of the race prior to the general election. See 11 CFR 104.5(a)(1).

Before a committee can stop filing with the FEC, it must file a termination report with the Commission. See 11 CFR 102.3. Committees must continue to file reports until the Commission notifies them in writing that their termination report has been accepted.

METHODS OF FILING REPORTS

Electronic Filing

Reports filed electronically must be received and validated by the Commission by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the filing deadline.
See 11 CFR 104.5(e).
See also 11 CFR 104.18 and 100.19

48 HOUR NOTICES OF CONTRIBUTIONS

The principal campaign committee must file notices if any authorized committees receive any contribution (including in-kind gifts or advances of goods or services; Loans from the candidate or other non-bank sources; and guarantees or endorsements of bank loans to the candidate or committee) of $1,000 or more per source, during the period less than 20 days but more than 48 hours before any election in which the candidate is running. See 11 CFR 104.5(f).

The notices, which may be filed using Form 6, must reach the appropriate federal and/or state filing office(s) within 48 hours of the committee’s receipt of the contribution(s). See 11 CFR 104.5(f).

PRE- AND POST-ELECTION REPORTS

The principal campaign committee of any candidate participating in a 2012 state primary, nominating convention or runoff election -- even if unopposed -- must also file a pre-election report 12 days prior to the primary, nominating convention or runoff. The principal campaign committee of a candidate participating in the general election must file pre- and post-general election reports. See 11 CFR 104.5(a)(2).

COMPLIANCE

Treasurer Responsibility

Committee Treasurers are responsible for both the timeliness and the accuracy of all reports. They may be subject to monetary penalties if reports are inaccurate or are not filed on time. See 11 CFR 104.14(d).

DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYIST BUNDLING ACTIVITY

Campaign committees must file FEC Form 3L [PDF] if they receive two or more bundled contributions from lobbyists/registrants or lobbyist/registrant PACs that aggregate in excess of $16,700 during the applicable reporting period. See 11 CFR 104.22 and 11 CFR 110.17(f).

2012 REPORTING SCHEDULE

IMPORTANT FILING INFORMATION - PAPER FILERS

In response to the anthrax threat, the U.S. Postal Service is irradiating mail directed to many federal agencies, including the FEC and the Secretary of the Senate. 4 This process has not only delayed mail delivery, it has also damaged and in some cases destroyed pieces of mail. As a result, committees that file reports with the FEC may want to consider submitting their reports by some means other than U.S. mail. Alternative methods include electronic filing, overnight mail or delivery service, and hand delivery.

FOOTNOTES:

1 Generally, an individual becomes a candidate for federal office (and thus triggers registration and reporting obligations) when his or her campaign exceeds $5,000 in either contributions received or expenditures made. If the campaign has not crossed the $5,000 threshold, it is not required to file reports. See 11 CFR 100.3(a). See also 11 CFR 104.5(a).

2 If a candidate has more than one authorized committee, the principal campaign committee files a consolidated report on Form 3Z [PDF]. See 11 CFR 104.3(f).

3 Penalties for late- and non-filing of 48-hour notices are based on the amount of contributions received not timely disclosed. As a result, these penalties may exceed $17,600, even for first-time violations. See 11 CFR 111.44.

4 Senate committees should contact the Secretary of the Senate at (202) 224-0322 for more information on filing reports via US mail.